Evaluating the Anti-Oxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Watercress Supplementation at Short-Term Follow-Up: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

2025-06
Food science & nutrition 13(6)
- Jimmy Wen
- Muhammad Karabala
- Zohaer Muttalib
- Burhaan Syed
- Ramy Khalil
- Daniel Razick
- Adam Razick
- David Pai

PubMed: 40488189
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.70407

Study Design

Type: Review
Sample size: n = 302
Population: Seven RCTs, including 302 patients with a mean age of 47 years (23-61)
Methods: Systematic review search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library
Duration: mean follow-up time of 39 days (21-60)

Watercress (WC) has been used extensively in traditional medicine for various healthcare conditions such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, arthritis, and more. This systematic review evaluates WC's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers in human studies. A systematic review search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library for studies reporting anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative markers following WC supplementation, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Study variables included the number of patients, dosage/formulation of WC, mean age, and follow-up time, pre- and post-intervention antioxidant/anti-inflammatory outcomes, and complications. Seven RCTs, including 302 patients with a mean age of 47 years (23-61) and a mean follow-up time of 39 days (21-60), were included in this study. The dosage varied from 85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day. Antioxidant parameters reported included superoxide dismutase (five studies), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (two studies), glutathione peroxidase (two studies), retinol (two studies), β-carotene (two studies), and α-tocopherol (two studies). Oxidative stress parameters included protein carbonyls (four studies), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (two studies), malondialdehyde (two studies), nitric oxide (two studies), T-SH (two studies), and CAT (three studies). Inflammatory markers included two studies reporting on tumor necrosis factor-a (two studies) and one study reporting on interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein. WC administration demonstrated improvement for most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers and had a strong safety profile. WC had a positive effect on anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory markers. However, the relatively short follow-up times and heterogeneous patient demographics and formulations/dosages of WC warrant further studies to assess the benefits of WC.

Research Insights

Watercress→Increased Alpha-Tocopherol Level
Antioxidant parameters reported included ... α-tocopherol (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Antioxidant Enzyme Levels
Antioxidant parameters reported included ... glutathione peroxidase (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Beta-Carotene Level
Antioxidant parameters reported included ... β-carotene (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Catalase Activity
WC administration demonstrated improvement for most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Catalase Level
Oxidative stress parameters included ... CAT (three studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Glutathione Peroxidase Activity
WC administration demonstrated improvement for most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Retinol Level
Antioxidant parameters reported included ... retinol (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Increased Thiol Level
Oxidative stress parameters included ... T-SH (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced C-Reactive Protein Levels
Inflammatory markers included ... one study reporting on ... C-reactive protein
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Interleukin-1 Level
Inflammatory markers included ... one study reporting on interleukin-1 ...
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Interleukin-6 Levels
Inflammatory markers included ... one study reporting on interleukin-6 ...
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Malondialdehyde
Oxidative stress parameters included ... malondialdehyde (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Malondialdehyde Level
WC administration demonstrated improvement for most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Nitric Oxide Level
Oxidative stress parameters included ... nitric oxide (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Protein Carbonyl Level
Oxidative stress parameters included protein carbonyls (four studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substance Level
Oxidative stress parameters included ... thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Level
WC administration demonstrated improvement for most antioxidant and anti-inflammatory markers
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day
Watercress→Reduced Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
Inflammatory markers included two studies reporting on tumor necrosis factor-a (two studies)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
85 g/day to 750 mg/kg/day

Adverse Events Reported

Watercress→Overall tolerability
WC had a strong safety profile.
Finding
Reported